St. Joe's Hunt goes national

July 25, 2006|SCOTT DAVIDSON Tribune Staff Writer

It has not been your normal summer vacation for Alex Hunt. Then again, she's not your typical teen. At least not when it comes to her volleyball prowess. The South Bend St. Joseph's junior-to-be has had quite a month on the volleyball court, the athletic stage where this star shines the brightest. Hunt, a sweet-swinging six-foot southpaw, capped off her summer by being named to the USA Volleyball Girls Youth National Team for 15-16 year olds. Hunt has been at the University of Florida since July 9. She was one of 18 players invited from some 800-900 who tried out across the country in the spring. "I was just really happy to make the team,'' said Hunt in a phone interview from Gainesville Sunday night. "It was nerve racking. There are a lot of really talented players here. "It was very intense in the tryouts leading up to the cuts last Thursday. I thought my chances of making it were as good as anyone's.'' The 12-member USA team will serve as host for an international tournament. The American squad will play Honduras today, followed by matches against Mexico, Canada, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico through Saturday. Matches to determine final placings will be contested Sunday with Hunt scheduled to return home July 31, the first day of practice for her high school team. "Since Day 1, they've made it clear our goal is to win the gold medal,'' Hunt said of the mindset for the tourney. "That's what we hope to do this week.'' Hunt warmed up for the national team tryouts in a big way. The 16-year old led her Dunes 16 Club team to first place in the Nationals in Atlanta in early July. Hunt was named MVP of her division at the event. "It was reassuring to go to Florida after Nationals,'' said Hunt, who is the lone player from Indiana on the team. Hunt, who led Class 3-A state finalist St. Joe in kills and assists as a sophomore in 2005, knows how valuable this experience has been. "I've improved a lot in the two weeks I've been here,'' said Hunt, who has been hitting right side for the National squad. "It's such a high level of play with the talent that's here. Sometimes I stand on the sideline watching and say to myself, 'This is good.' It helps me realize that there is so much more improvement I can make.''